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Holly Holm didn’t see any grand conspiracy at work when she received the decision that she would face two-time Olympic judo gold medalist Kayla Harrison in her subsequent combat at UFC 300.
After all it’s unimaginable to neglect that Holm grew to become a UFC champion after she demolished Olympic judo bronze medalist Ronda Rousey again in 2015. Rousey counted Harrison as a teammate and even a roommate at one level when each had been pursuing their Olympic goals.
Now Harrison seeks to observe in Rousey’s footsteps within the UFC with hopes she will win a title within the close to future however to get wherever close to that purpose, she first has to get by Holm. Regardless of coming from nearly an identical backgrounds, Holm doesn’t view Harrison by the identical lens as she did Rousey after they met simply over eight years in the past.
“So far as their backgrounds being judo champions, they’ve completely different stances, completely different sizes, completely different kinds,” Holm instructed MMA Preventing. “There are some similarities however they’re two very completely different fighters as effectively.
“Even after they get to the bottom, Kayla Harrison’s had her floor and pound and Ronda would alwa
If there’s one space that Harrison mirrors with Rousey — not less than on the floor — it’s that each of them usually most well-liked a floor battle versus a standup combat. That modified for Rousey after she scored a few devastating knockouts on the ft however Harrison has by no means shied away from her need to pull an opponent to the canvas and pummel them with fists.
On the ft, Harrison has proven marked enhancements through the years however she nonetheless usually depends on her grappling recreation to earn wins. When Rousey struggled to get Holm to the bottom, the Worldwide Boxing Corridor of Famer made her pay, particularly with the pinnacle kick that ended her undefeated run within the UFC.
Holm gained’t predict the identical will occur to Harrison as a result of she has to anticipate that the American High Staff educated fighter will likely be prepared for every thing even when she’s not as proficient in some areas.
“She’s going to return in along with her greatest hanging,” Holm mentioned. “I got here from hanging and I’ve developed right into a blended martial artist. She got here from judo, that kind of background, and developed to turn out to be a blended martial artist. I undoubtedly assume she’s improved in her standup. It’s not one thing she began with similar to I didn’t begin with wrestling or grappling or something like that.
“I believe she’s had a superb period of time in her blended martial arts profession, to being extra well-rounded as I’ve, so I believe that’s what makes this combat fascinating.”
Exterior of the particular combat, if there’s one side to this matchup that’s been scrutinized advert nauseum it’s Harrison competing as a bantamweight for the primary time.
Except for one combat at featherweight and a 150-pound catchweight combat, Harrison has spent her whole profession competing at 155 kilos. She additionally gained gold within the Olympics competing at 78kg, which is slightly below 172 kilos.
Harrison acknowledged previously that preventing as little as 135 kilos would check her in methods she’s by no means been examined earlier than nevertheless it’s a problem she accepted to combat within the UFC. For all the eye that’s going to be paid to Harrison’s weight minimize within the days main as much as UFC 300, Holm isn’t placing thought into that in any respect.
“There’s been fighters who’ve dropped weight and performed rather well after which there’s been fighters which have gone up as a result of making weight was depleting them and so they’re stronger,” Holm mentioned. “So it simply type of relies upon.
“I don’t assume she would have taken the combat if she didn’t have faith she may make the load. So we’ll be superb.”
Relatively than worrying about Harrison struggling by a brutal weight minimize, Holm prefers to organize for the most effective model of her opponent potential. Anticipating the rest could be a mistake.
“I don’t assume it is going to matter combat evening,” Holm mentioned. “As a result of I wish to be ready for the quickest, strongest, most conditioned Kayla Harrison there’s. I don’t wish to put it in my head ‘oh she might not be sturdy sufficient or she is perhaps depleted and that I believe I’ve this edge in that means.’ No, I have to beat her at her strongest, at her most conditioned and at her quickest.”
As a result of there’s been a lot hype surrounding Harrison’s debut at UFC 300, Holm understands the stakes for this combat.
A win on Saturday is all that actually issues to Holm however she additionally is aware of beating Harrison doubtlessly places her again in title rivalry, particularly since she already has two wins over present champion Raquel Pennington.
“That is undoubtedly a combat that may set that path in the appropriate path for me,” Holm mentioned. “I don’t wish to combat except there’s all the time a imaginative and prescient and a purpose of being champion. If that’s not an choice, I don’t wish to be preventing. I solely wish to combat after I know that’s nonetheless obtainable.
“Pennington being champion now, she’s been round for a fairly a very long time, too, and sure, I’ve two wins over right here. However she’s all the time been a type of powerful fighters.”
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